Claims of facts used in Opinion-Educational colums of Time Online Magazine

ABSTRACT

Claims of facts assert the condition based on situations or circumstances that occur in which these are supported by factual information. It principally requires the writers to be capable of defending their own claim and opposing the others. With the intention of defending the claim, the writers should provide numerous factual information, for instance sufficient and appropriate data, reliable authorities, relevant fact, and logical interpretation which are able to encourage the readers to consent with the claims. This case will be the starting point of this research, which concern with the linguistic aspects of claims of facts in the argumentation.

In this research, the research problems are formulated into two sections; those are (1) How are claims of facts presented by the writers in Opinion- Educational Column of TIME Online Magazine and (2) How are claims of facts defended by the writers in Opinion-Educational Column of TIME Online Magazine. This research mainly employs descriptive qualitative method, since the data are investigated using the researcher’s interpretation not employing statistical procedures. The investigation on claim of fact is bounded to the article in Opinion-Educational Column of TIME Online Magazine published from September 1st up to October 31st, 2012.

The research proves that funnel and relevant quotation are commonly used by most writers as the way to present their claim of fact. Only one data uses Turn About as the way to present the claim. Furthermore, this study establishes the ways in which the claims of facts are defended by the authors as described in the following explanation: First, nearly all claims are stated explicitly by its authors in the educational articles provided in TIME online magazine. Second, several writers do not define the ambiguous term so that the readers should delineate the mentioned word by themselves. Third, all writers utilize sufficient and appropriate data (examples, statistics, testimony from reliable source), reliable authorities, and accurate, current and typical facts and opinions. Fourth, both inferences and interpretation are used as the conclusion of the argumentation. Fifth, most articles employ climatic order as the principles of essay organization.

Since the employment of factual information is potentially able to defend the writers’ claim, therefore, it is recommended for the future researchers to conduct the research by using the article of TIME online magazine since this edition contains the example of claims which are able to show the ways the writers present and defend their claim that are relevant to be investigated by using those three types of claims.